Oil-well derrick and method of shortening same



Oct. 4, 1927.

1,644,499 `w. A TROUT v oxL WELL DERRICK AND METHOD oF sHoRTENING SAMEFiled Nov. 5 ;l925 v s sheets-sheet;

Oct. 4 n

1927 w. A. TROUT OIL WELL DERRICK AND METHOD OF SHORTENING SAME FiledNov. 5, 1925 i 5 sheets-sheet 2 MMM@ Oct. 4 l 1,644,499

927 w. A. TROUT I OIL WELL DERRICK AND METHOD 0F SHORTENING SAME FiledNov. s. 1925 s sheets-sheet, s

l' Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. TROUT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

OIL-WELL DEBRICK AND METHOD O F SHORTENING SAME.

Application mea November 5, 19'25. serial No. 67,190.

In this industry a derrick is installed prel vious to the drilling of awell for the purpose of handling the various equipment during thedrilling of the well, and also during lthe pumping period thereof.'VVhile drilling the well lthe derrick is called upon to handle enormousloads and must endure great strains, besides supporting certainmachinery such as the draw-works. After the well has been drilled andthe casing set, the derrick is no longer required to handle great loadsor withstand severe strains, but is used for handling the pump tubingand sucker yrods which are comparatively light when contrasted with thedrill pipe and other drilling equipment. It is general practice toremoveall the equipment of the derrickA after the well has been drilledexcept that necessary to operate the pumpt and that used to remove thepump tubing and rods from the well. Y

Since the derrick is not required to handle great loads or endurerigorous strainsk during pumping, it is plainly evident thatl only alight derrick is necessary at this time.

` A heavy derrick, such as used during drilling, is quite an expensiveinvestmentand as a matter of economy" some companies have established apractice of dismantlin the heavynderrick, used during drilling, an ofreplacing it by a lighterderrick when the drilling is completed, theheavy derrick be- .ing assembled elsewhere for use in drilling anotherwell. Although thispractice is cheaper than providing. a new derrick foreach well, the labor of` dismantling and assembling is quite anexpensive item.

IItis an object of this invention to provide a method for .suspendin theupper part and removing an interme iate part of ay drilling derrick,then lowering'the upper part of the derrick into yposition for handlingvthe pumping equipment and subsequentlyr removing the lowepartfof'thedrillying derrick. -The upper part of aheavy derf- `rick,. less certainreinforcing elements hereinafter referred to, is practically the same inconstruction 'as thelighter derricks used to replace these heavyderrieks. Only by thus lowering the upper part and removing the lowerpart of the heavy derrick are dismantling and subsequent assemblingofthe upper part 'of thederrick "eliminated, andthe manner in which the anappreciable saving is brought to pass. The lower part of the derrick is,of course, used at another well during drilling. i

.ltis4 another object of my invention t0 provide a method for,converting a drilling derrick, or heavy derrick, into a pumping derrick,or light derrick, which consists in attaching gins or lowering mechanismto a derrick, and disconnecting the upper and lower parts of the derrick.from an intermediate part and removing saidA intermediate part so thatthe upper4 part may be lowered within the lower part by the loweringmechanism, into a position to be used for pumping.

. Other objects and the particular advantages of-my invention will bemade evident hereinafter.V Q l Referring to the drawings in which Iillustrate my invention:Y l

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a derrick i of my invention showing thegins or lowering mechanism in place.

Fig. 2 is a vview 'of-the derrick showing an intermediate part lthereofremoved and the upper part of the derrick ready for lowering. l

Fig 3 is an elevational lView of the der-l rick showing the upper partthereof lowered into engagement with a base.

Fi 4 .is a view of the upper` part of the i derri k, per se, thelowering mechanism Aand Y the lower part thereof being dismantled andremoved from place.

' Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially as indicated by the line45---5 of Fig. 1, showing bracingof the lowering mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentarydetail taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2,showing the uppgr end of one of the gin posts of the' lowering mechanismandfthe mannenin which the upper part of the derrick is supported.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing the upper endof one of the gin posts ofthe lowering mechanism and derrickissupported.

' Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken substantially as indicated bythe line 8'8`of of-Fig. 2,showing the'manner in which the g'n' posts-"ofthe lowering mechanism are secured to the lowerpart of the derrick.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged' fragmentary view showing the winch constructionIof my in.- vention, this view"be ing taken' substantially as-indicatedbythe line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

upper part of the lVith reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawin s, thederrick of my invention c onsists o substantially vertically extending11 which are ositioned at the corners lefgs o the derrick. T ese legsare .braced and Fig. 1. The derrick consists of a lower sectionindicated atA, an` intermediate section indicated at B and an uppersection indicated at C. The lower section A is con- 'structed so that itaccommodates the custom derric'k equipment. In the drawings t e dei-rickis shown looking vfrom the walking beam side thereof. The lowerpart A istherefore constructed so as to provide a vertically extending elongated,opening 17 -through which a walking eam may project.

The up r section C vis provided with an identica 4vertically extendingelongated openin 18. This opening' 18 is 1n substantially t e' sameposition and is the samedistance from the lower end of the upper part Cas is,the openin-g17 from 'the lower end of the lower part A. vIt is tobe understood that on the Othersides of the derrickthe cured in place.'

v ereinafter.

constructions of the lower and' upper parts ma be identical in-the samerespects as the wa Fbeam side'of thederrick. `The purose o sucharrangement will be described When it is desired. to convert the derrickshown in the drawings from -adrilling der- '.rick into a pum ingderrick, the removable members, if suc are used, which reinforce thecornermembers are removed land the lowering mechanism of my inventionis' se-' The'lowerin stantially verticall which are secure lower part Aof the derrick.` As slown'in extending gin posts 2.0

* Fig. 8, the posts l20 may be formed/from angle irons and are securedtojtlie legs 11 b angle brackets 21`whichare positioned as ownclarly inFig.` 8. Thean'gle brackets 21 are permanentlyrseclred to' the posts20`l by rivets 23, whereasfth'ey are removably secured to the legs11 bybolts 24. The angle bracketsm21 are rigidly-secured to the posts 20since there is no need fofsepa. tion, whefeas jthey` are removablysecure to; the

l leg'smll so that they may be secured to different' derricks'when thesederricks are -to be converted-from a drilling derrickinto a mechanismconsists of sub= to the legs '11* of the upper ends by horizontal braces28 whichy .A

are secured to the posts by bolts 29.

Near the lower ends of the legs l1a are "Winches 30. As clearly shown inFig. 9, the

Winches 30 each consists of frame members 32 and 33 which provideflanges 34 adapted -to contact the outer faces of the legs 11a.

These fianges 34 are removably securedto the legs 11@ by bolts 36. Theframe 32 is L-shaped having a portion 37 and the plane 33 isZ-shapedhaving a portion 38 which extendssubstantially parallel totheportion 37 but is spaced a distance therefrom." Extending between theseportions 37 and 38 is ai shaft 39 which carries a drum 40. Secured tothe shaft 39 or the drum 4() is a gear 41 which is meshed with a pinion42 by which it is rotated in a. manner to revolve the drum 40. Thispinion 42 is carried on a shaft 44 which extends between the portions 37and 38,-Which shaft has a polygonal portion 45 formed on one end'thereof in order to accommodate a suitable wrench or crank for revolvingthe shaft in order .to operate the winch 30. A collar 47 is secured tothe shaft havingv holes 48 adapted to receive a pin 50. The pin 50 whenextended into one of the holes .48 engages the frame 33 and prevents arotation of the shaft 44 and likewise a rotation of the drum 40. Thewinch shown is of conventional design' and any other well known form oflifting device may be substituted therefor. Carried on the spool portionof .the drum 40 of each of the Winches 30 is-a cable 55. The cablesextend upwardly, as shown in thel drawings, and extend over the sheaves'26 and are secured, as shown in Fig. 6, to the lower corners of theupper part C of the derrick. These cables have loops 56vformed l "at theupper end thereof 4which extend through openings 57 formed at the -lowercorners of the part C of the'derrick.

After the lowering mechanism has been placed, the-winches`30 areoperated to place a tension on the 'cables*55. When this t-en-` sion isgreat enougli', the weight 'of the'vupper `part ofP the derrick istransferred to the lower part of the derrick, not through vtheintermediate part B but through the lowerl ing mechanism. The part B ofthe derrick is then removedv from place,` this part beingr soconstructed that it can be easily disman tled when theweight thereon isremoved. Durlng this time the upper part C of the derrick is stabilizedand prevented from toppling by suitable guy cables 59 which extend fromthe upper end of the part C to the ground. In Fig. 2 I show the derrickof v my invention with the upper part C thereof supported entirely bythe lowering mechanism of my invention, the intermediate section Bhaving been removed from place.

The next operation is tov lower the upper part C of the derrick so thatit rests on the base or foundation for the derrick. The upper part C isshown in lowered position in Fig. 3.- This is accomplished by operatingthe winches 3Q to unwind the cables 55.

-After the upper part Chas been lowered, as

shown in Fig. 3, the lowering mechanism may be detached therefrom andkremoved from place, and the lower part A of the derrick mayabedismantled. In Fig. 4 the upper part of the derrick is shown by itself,the lowering mechanism and the lower part A. of the derrick beingdismantled. lThe lower part A ofthe derrick may be assembled and used asthe lower part of another derrick at l some other well. t

As shown in Fig. 4, the opening `18, Vwhen the upper part C is movedinto lowered position, occupies the fsame vertical position which theopening 17, of the lower part A of Vthe derrick, occupied when it was inplace.

During pumping, the walking beam which may have previously projectedthrough the opening 17 will 4.now project through the .opening 18. Thisisan important feature of my invention, since it eliminates thenecessity for any reconstruction. -From Fig. 1

. it will be seen that the lower part of the derrick A andthe lowerportion of the upper part C are substantially 'the samein construction,this being quite important as previously pointed'out. Certain of thecross bracings of the lower end of the upper part ,C of the derrick maybe removed as l shown in Fig. 4 and vertical members indicated by dottedlines may be provided for' supporting a calf wheel or other equipment ofthe derrick. It is quite obvious that the removing and replacing oftheseparts may be eas- 1 ily accomplished.

My invention has produced 'great economies in the oil producingindustry, since my type of derrick can be easily converted from adrillin into a pumping, derrick. rPhe necessity o leavingan expensiveheavy derrick at a well when only a light-drrickv is necessary or thecomplete dismantling ofl a. heavy derrick and the replacing of it by alighter 'derrick isfeliminated by my `invention.'. As clearly-statedrandillustrated heref' tofore, the upper partjC of myx derrick issubstantially the' same yc struction as .the lighter derricks by which'the heavyv derricks are frequently replaced. 'The lower of ny derrick isof substantially sti'dard construction and may be removed from place bythe method and .apparatus lof my invention, leaving only the upper andlighter part of the derrlck.` J

part A A ated between upper and lower parts thereof;

and lowering said upper part into pumping position.`

3. In combination: a derrick comprising an upper part, an intermediatepart and a lower part; and mechanism arranged to receive the weightof'said upper part so that said intermediate part may be disconnectedand removed from said upper and lower parts, said mechanism being sopositioned and attached to said upper part that, upon the removal ofsaid intermediate part, said` to a.

upper part may be lowered directl soy position of rest upon thebase ofsai lowerpart.

4. an upper part, an intermediate part and-a lower part; and mechanismcarrled by said lower part and arranged to receive the weight of saidupper part so that said intermediatev part may be ldisconnected andremoved from said upper and lower parts, said mechanism being sopositioned' and attached to said upper part that, upon -the removal ofsaid intermediatepart, said upper part may be' lowered directl to aposition of rest upon the base of sai lowerpart.

5.` In combination: a derrick comprising an upper part, and intermediatepart and a lower' art; ginl poles secured to said lower part; s eavesmounted at the upper ends of said gin poles; cables extending over saidsheaves and being attached to said upper part; and Winches secured tosaid lower part on which Winches said cables are wound, said )vinchesbeing operable to wind said cables thereon to supportsaid upper part sothat said intermediate partfmay be disconnected and removed,' and to.unwind said cables to subsequently lower said upper part into loweredposition'.

6..- n combination: `a derrick; a lower colistruction at theA lower endof said-derrick adapted .'to accommodate certain equipment Incombinations a derrick comprising.-

ofsaid derrick; and an upper construction.y

above said.lowericonstruction similar to said lower construction, saidupper .construction being adapted to accommodate the same equipmentaccommodated by said lower construction when the upper part of saidderrick is separately used as a pumpin derrick.

7. In combination a derric comprising 'lower part; mechanism arranged'tosupport the weht of said upper part so that said interm iate part may bedisconnected from said lowerf end u per parts and removed, saidmechanism eing operable (to subsequently lower said upper part; a lowerconstruction in said llower part, adapted to accommodate certain derrickequipment; and an upper construction in said upper part,

said upper construction being arranged to accommodate the same equipmentaccommodated by said lower construction vwhen said upper part is loweredintc pumpingposi- 8. A method of converting a drilling der! rick into apumping derrick which comgrrises: supporting an upper portion of saidilling derrick of suiiicl'ent size to act as a L 20y pumping derricksothat parts ofthe drilling derrick can be removed from below said upperportion; and 'thereafter lowering said upper portion into pumpingposition through the space left by said removal.

9. A method of converting a drilling derrick into a umping derrick whichcomprises: provi ln a drilling derrick, the upper portion which issuitable .for use as a pumping derrick; supportin the weiht of saidupper portion in-depen ently of t e remainder of the derrick; removing asuicient amount of said remainder to allow said upper portion'to befreely lowered into pumping position; and thereafter so lowering saidupper portion.

-l In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 26th day of October, 1925.

@WILLIAM A. TROUT.

